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Elena Vaytsekhovskaya's interview with Elena Radionova for ria.ru
4 years ago a great future awaited her: Elena Radionova twice won the junior worlds, in her first senior season she won the nationals and took silver in the GPF and the europeans. She took the bronze in worlds 2015. However, the last two season were a failure: the skater haven't made it to the team neither with Goncharenko nor after switching coaches to Buyanova.
EV: In the preseason interviews the skaters usually tell not only about the new programmes, but also how hard breaking the new boots was. What did you have to endure over the summer?
ER: I also changed the boots, but it’s usually not a painful process. I came back from the vacation, started preparing o the Denis Ten show and was breaking the new boots till the practices began. After the first training camp I had an impression they were not yet broken, but it didn’t bother me skating.
EV: Was the summer work tough?
ER: This year – yes. Both mentally and physically. It was hard going back. The break was quite long.
EV: I know you were thinking of your future after not making it to the main competitions in December last year. What pushed you to continue?
ER: Guess the fact I love figure skating. I often think I haven’t yet done all I could in figure skating, haven’t won all the medals. I feel I can do it, hence I need to restart and start working again, forgetting all that happened before. Of course I can’t really forget, but overlook some things – that I should.
EV: So you won’t repeat the mistakes you made?
ER: I can’t even say there were some crucial mistakes. Last season, for example, there were none. Everything went so smoothly in the practices. During the competitions, however, weird things happened. The fall from the loop at the Nationals – I can’t even recall ever falling from the loop in a practice. I was landing the flip/loop combos before the nationals. I still can’t understand what happened and why my leg swell a couple of days before the competition. Or why I skated into a dwell before doing the loop.
EV: Why didn’t you choreograph the programmes with Bourne like a year ago. I know many think she is `your’ choreographer.
ER: Indeed. I was considering working with Shae-Lynn and was thinking whether I can afford it, but then we talked with Elena Germanovna, considered all and decided this season we should choreograph home. In the end Peter Tchernyshev did both my programmes, and, frankly, am very satisfied with the result. My SP is Emmy Winehouse `You Know I'm No Good’, the LP - Cinema Paradiso soundtrack. I.e. two completely different programmes. Previously I worked with Tchernyshev on an exhibition number and I loved working with him. Peter is painting with his feet. In figure skating there is the fact you are gliding and making the turns in the direction you are comfortable. Tchernyshev does the opposite – his steps are done such a way you first think no way your leg will go there. I was horrified and thought I will never able to skate it. But I made it. And understood once it works some interesting things come out.
EV: Are you uncomfortable with the group being twice bigger - in an addition to Maria Sotskova Polina Tsurskaya joined.
ER: You know, it’s not the athletics where the fastest wins. I sometimes can watch the girls skating and they motivate me, but in genera l don’t really care what goes on around. More important is focusing on myself and make myself work. And have a good contact with the coach.
EV: What were your impressions of the Olympics in Korea?
ER: Frankly, no special feelings.
EV: You were not surprised at all Zagitova have won?
ER: I expected her to win, think it was clear from the beginning of the season. Zhenya was taken down with the injury and while Alina was unable to handle her SP at the beginning of the season those events she competed with Medvedeva she skated well. Guess the competition motivated her. Yes, Medvedeva has a name and is more experienced skater, but usually the unexpected people win the Olympics.
EV: Do you remember your feelings when Medvedeva switched to the seniors and you were competing?
ER: I do remember the Europeans in Bratislava 2016, where Zhenya beat me. I was so hurt – I skated both my programmes clean and ended up second after Zhenya fell from her 2A. But it’s not the judges fault. I was blaming myself. Of course it was not nice – the second Europeans and a silver again. In 2015 in Stockholm I was less than a point behind Tuktamysheva, Bratislava was kind of a misunderstanding as well. On the other hand I realized Zhenya was getting her points first of all thanks to her consistency. A huge respect to her for being able to recover and compete at the Olympics. Yet still, Alina looked more confident in Korea.
EV: What were you thinking watching Medvedeva’s LP at the Olympics?
ER: I understood how she felt. Understood where all these emotions and tears came from. It’s even harder when the main competition of your life the person who wins is the one from your group. Looking at Alina I recalled myself . How I was going to my very first Europeans and Worlds. It was a celebration: wow, am I really sharing the ice with all these people? It’s not that your head is empty, but there are no hesitations. You understand even if something doesn’t work its’ the first time, so it’s ok. Sometimes I even thought Alina didn’t really realized she was competing at the Olympics. Zhenya is a different story. Mentally it was much harder for her and she had all these expectations on her shoulders.
EV: How much of a competition you consider the world champion Osmond?
ER: I respect her a lot. She didn’t get to the top at once – she had some serious injuries. She fought and fought and in the end she has all the titles no other female skater has – she won both the Olympics and the Worlds.
EV: You don’t separate between the team and the personal event?
ER: There are different points of views on the team event, but I think the answer is in the table. The results are the history of our sports and you can’t earse them. At the end of the day, there are sports where a person sits on the bench the whole competition and becomes a champion.
EV: Have you ever thought what your life would look like if figure skating wasn’t part of it?
ER: I think everyone thinks of it. I imagine my life differently every time. On one hand I understand I love figure skating so much and not yet ready to stop skating. I can be hard, there are moments I have to overcome, but nevertheless – that’s the meaning of my life. I know what it sounds like, but it’s the truth. I won’t hid it – I thrill being in the public, skate for the public and getting the attention. I love performing and not just skate for the coaches and the judges, and luckily there are many shows and TV shows now. It’s interesting.
EV: Many years ago when talking to Katia Gordeeva she said figure skating is quite a dangerous sports for a woman. You are so needed and its’ hard to stop. It becomes such a big part of your life you miss the moment to start a family and have a child. You then catch yourself, but its’ too late.
ER: There is that. I think it’s important feeling when is the right time to stop. To start the family. I think no matter what the person does they must have a family. It’s the only place where you are really needed. You might imagine as much as you like that you are so cool, so demanded, so famous, so rich, but it all ends and you end up alone.
EV: Are there places you especially love to perform?
ER: I love skating in Moscow. Another place- Japan. That’s where my GP event this year is. The Japanese give a massive support to the skaters. There are so many fans, yet they are not pressing, the opposite- they make the atmosphere nice.
EV: You go out skating as if it was a party?
ER: It’s a bit too much, but the atmosphere of the Japanese events is very free and full of emotions. You understand that those sitting on the seats don’t care which place you’ll end up making. They just want you to do well, support and love you. And you just want to give them all of yourself, the maximum pleasure.
EV: Did the fans’ attention ever became a burden? Who is the Elena Radionova support group?
ER: Am not sure such a group exists. There are many groups in insgagram, but my communication with the fans mainly ends with the social networks. They leave a comment, I might like a comment, that’s it. Am very grateful for people who support me, it’s so very nice, but communicating closely – not really. I know one woman in Japan, who always comments on my photos and sends letters. At the time she was a fan of Julia Lipnitskaya and then started supporting me and even created a group Julia-Elena.ru. She have been supporting me for very long. She sews teddy bears in my costumes. I already have 2 such teddies, she is now making another one. Guess she is the fan I have the closest relationship with.
EV: If you were among those who decide on the age limit in the ladies skating would you rather increase it?
ER: I think so, at least till the age of 16. I would also want to have a competition based on the standings and not the flag – like in tennis. A lot of countries have more skaters than spots, some countries have more spots than skaters. So why not have one competition the way it is now and the other – based on the standings? And make them equally important.
As for the age – it’s a tough topic. The adult skaters are interesting to watch because they indeed have programmes. Of course when the skaters such as Zhenya or Alina come, like it was last season everyone only focus on their competition. There was no sport left for anyone else. But sometimes I was catching myself thinking am more interesting watching Kostner or Osmond and thinking whether they will be able to join the fight or not. The juniors are a different world, where you don’t even understand who will come up. It’s so unpredictable, the sports destiny turns out so differently for everyone. Take Sasha Trusova. God help her to keep healthy and be able to jump her quads once she becomes a senior. Am so curious what will become of her.
EV: How is it skating with such a long hair as Sasha has?
ER: You know, it took me a while to get used skating with my hair lose for the shows, even though my hair is much shorter than Sasha’s. If I do a ponytail I can’t even jump – it pushes me and it’s hard to keep the balance in the jumps and the spins – your head goes backwards. Sometimes heavy skirts make the same effect. Hence I never keep my hair loose in the practices. Only in real life if I go out. When I skate with my hair loose in the shows many think it’s really cool.
EV: Have you ever considered cutting your hair?
ER: I did. But I was talked out. Was told it will not look good. On the other hand I recall coming to a hairdresser and asking to cut the ends. He took off about 8-10cm, but it was such a shame. I walked home thinking: it took so long to grow that hair. Yes, there are moments when you want to change things, but if you already have a style – what for?
4 years ago a great future awaited her: Elena Radionova twice won the junior worlds, in her first senior season she won the nationals and took silver in the GPF and the europeans. She took the bronze in worlds 2015. However, the last two season were a failure: the skater haven't made it to the team neither with Goncharenko nor after switching coaches to Buyanova.
EV: In the preseason interviews the skaters usually tell not only about the new programmes, but also how hard breaking the new boots was. What did you have to endure over the summer?
ER: I also changed the boots, but it’s usually not a painful process. I came back from the vacation, started preparing o the Denis Ten show and was breaking the new boots till the practices began. After the first training camp I had an impression they were not yet broken, but it didn’t bother me skating.
EV: Was the summer work tough?
ER: This year – yes. Both mentally and physically. It was hard going back. The break was quite long.
EV: I know you were thinking of your future after not making it to the main competitions in December last year. What pushed you to continue?
ER: Guess the fact I love figure skating. I often think I haven’t yet done all I could in figure skating, haven’t won all the medals. I feel I can do it, hence I need to restart and start working again, forgetting all that happened before. Of course I can’t really forget, but overlook some things – that I should.
EV: So you won’t repeat the mistakes you made?
ER: I can’t even say there were some crucial mistakes. Last season, for example, there were none. Everything went so smoothly in the practices. During the competitions, however, weird things happened. The fall from the loop at the Nationals – I can’t even recall ever falling from the loop in a practice. I was landing the flip/loop combos before the nationals. I still can’t understand what happened and why my leg swell a couple of days before the competition. Or why I skated into a dwell before doing the loop.
EV: Why didn’t you choreograph the programmes with Bourne like a year ago. I know many think she is `your’ choreographer.
ER: Indeed. I was considering working with Shae-Lynn and was thinking whether I can afford it, but then we talked with Elena Germanovna, considered all and decided this season we should choreograph home. In the end Peter Tchernyshev did both my programmes, and, frankly, am very satisfied with the result. My SP is Emmy Winehouse `You Know I'm No Good’, the LP - Cinema Paradiso soundtrack. I.e. two completely different programmes. Previously I worked with Tchernyshev on an exhibition number and I loved working with him. Peter is painting with his feet. In figure skating there is the fact you are gliding and making the turns in the direction you are comfortable. Tchernyshev does the opposite – his steps are done such a way you first think no way your leg will go there. I was horrified and thought I will never able to skate it. But I made it. And understood once it works some interesting things come out.
EV: Are you uncomfortable with the group being twice bigger - in an addition to Maria Sotskova Polina Tsurskaya joined.
ER: You know, it’s not the athletics where the fastest wins. I sometimes can watch the girls skating and they motivate me, but in genera l don’t really care what goes on around. More important is focusing on myself and make myself work. And have a good contact with the coach.
EV: What were your impressions of the Olympics in Korea?
ER: Frankly, no special feelings.
EV: You were not surprised at all Zagitova have won?
ER: I expected her to win, think it was clear from the beginning of the season. Zhenya was taken down with the injury and while Alina was unable to handle her SP at the beginning of the season those events she competed with Medvedeva she skated well. Guess the competition motivated her. Yes, Medvedeva has a name and is more experienced skater, but usually the unexpected people win the Olympics.
EV: Do you remember your feelings when Medvedeva switched to the seniors and you were competing?
ER: I do remember the Europeans in Bratislava 2016, where Zhenya beat me. I was so hurt – I skated both my programmes clean and ended up second after Zhenya fell from her 2A. But it’s not the judges fault. I was blaming myself. Of course it was not nice – the second Europeans and a silver again. In 2015 in Stockholm I was less than a point behind Tuktamysheva, Bratislava was kind of a misunderstanding as well. On the other hand I realized Zhenya was getting her points first of all thanks to her consistency. A huge respect to her for being able to recover and compete at the Olympics. Yet still, Alina looked more confident in Korea.
EV: What were you thinking watching Medvedeva’s LP at the Olympics?
ER: I understood how she felt. Understood where all these emotions and tears came from. It’s even harder when the main competition of your life the person who wins is the one from your group. Looking at Alina I recalled myself . How I was going to my very first Europeans and Worlds. It was a celebration: wow, am I really sharing the ice with all these people? It’s not that your head is empty, but there are no hesitations. You understand even if something doesn’t work its’ the first time, so it’s ok. Sometimes I even thought Alina didn’t really realized she was competing at the Olympics. Zhenya is a different story. Mentally it was much harder for her and she had all these expectations on her shoulders.
EV: How much of a competition you consider the world champion Osmond?
ER: I respect her a lot. She didn’t get to the top at once – she had some serious injuries. She fought and fought and in the end she has all the titles no other female skater has – she won both the Olympics and the Worlds.
EV: You don’t separate between the team and the personal event?
ER: There are different points of views on the team event, but I think the answer is in the table. The results are the history of our sports and you can’t earse them. At the end of the day, there are sports where a person sits on the bench the whole competition and becomes a champion.
EV: Have you ever thought what your life would look like if figure skating wasn’t part of it?
ER: I think everyone thinks of it. I imagine my life differently every time. On one hand I understand I love figure skating so much and not yet ready to stop skating. I can be hard, there are moments I have to overcome, but nevertheless – that’s the meaning of my life. I know what it sounds like, but it’s the truth. I won’t hid it – I thrill being in the public, skate for the public and getting the attention. I love performing and not just skate for the coaches and the judges, and luckily there are many shows and TV shows now. It’s interesting.
EV: Many years ago when talking to Katia Gordeeva she said figure skating is quite a dangerous sports for a woman. You are so needed and its’ hard to stop. It becomes such a big part of your life you miss the moment to start a family and have a child. You then catch yourself, but its’ too late.
ER: There is that. I think it’s important feeling when is the right time to stop. To start the family. I think no matter what the person does they must have a family. It’s the only place where you are really needed. You might imagine as much as you like that you are so cool, so demanded, so famous, so rich, but it all ends and you end up alone.
EV: Are there places you especially love to perform?
ER: I love skating in Moscow. Another place- Japan. That’s where my GP event this year is. The Japanese give a massive support to the skaters. There are so many fans, yet they are not pressing, the opposite- they make the atmosphere nice.
EV: You go out skating as if it was a party?
ER: It’s a bit too much, but the atmosphere of the Japanese events is very free and full of emotions. You understand that those sitting on the seats don’t care which place you’ll end up making. They just want you to do well, support and love you. And you just want to give them all of yourself, the maximum pleasure.
EV: Did the fans’ attention ever became a burden? Who is the Elena Radionova support group?
ER: Am not sure such a group exists. There are many groups in insgagram, but my communication with the fans mainly ends with the social networks. They leave a comment, I might like a comment, that’s it. Am very grateful for people who support me, it’s so very nice, but communicating closely – not really. I know one woman in Japan, who always comments on my photos and sends letters. At the time she was a fan of Julia Lipnitskaya and then started supporting me and even created a group Julia-Elena.ru. She have been supporting me for very long. She sews teddy bears in my costumes. I already have 2 such teddies, she is now making another one. Guess she is the fan I have the closest relationship with.
EV: If you were among those who decide on the age limit in the ladies skating would you rather increase it?
ER: I think so, at least till the age of 16. I would also want to have a competition based on the standings and not the flag – like in tennis. A lot of countries have more skaters than spots, some countries have more spots than skaters. So why not have one competition the way it is now and the other – based on the standings? And make them equally important.
As for the age – it’s a tough topic. The adult skaters are interesting to watch because they indeed have programmes. Of course when the skaters such as Zhenya or Alina come, like it was last season everyone only focus on their competition. There was no sport left for anyone else. But sometimes I was catching myself thinking am more interesting watching Kostner or Osmond and thinking whether they will be able to join the fight or not. The juniors are a different world, where you don’t even understand who will come up. It’s so unpredictable, the sports destiny turns out so differently for everyone. Take Sasha Trusova. God help her to keep healthy and be able to jump her quads once she becomes a senior. Am so curious what will become of her.
EV: How is it skating with such a long hair as Sasha has?
ER: You know, it took me a while to get used skating with my hair lose for the shows, even though my hair is much shorter than Sasha’s. If I do a ponytail I can’t even jump – it pushes me and it’s hard to keep the balance in the jumps and the spins – your head goes backwards. Sometimes heavy skirts make the same effect. Hence I never keep my hair loose in the practices. Only in real life if I go out. When I skate with my hair loose in the shows many think it’s really cool.
EV: Have you ever considered cutting your hair?
ER: I did. But I was talked out. Was told it will not look good. On the other hand I recall coming to a hairdresser and asking to cut the ends. He took off about 8-10cm, but it was such a shame. I walked home thinking: it took so long to grow that hair. Yes, there are moments when you want to change things, but if you already have a style – what for?
